Authors : Slawomir Michalak , Wojciech Ambrosius , Krystyna Osztynowicz and Wojciech Kozubski
Abstract: Pathology of spinal cord belongs to neurological syndromes observed in the course of the cancer. Due to clinical uncertainties the underlying mechanisms still await elucidation. The aim of this study, involved analysis of lipid pattern, ATPase activities and expression of heat shock protein 70 kDa in spinal cord of tumor bearing rats. The histological abnormalities were also investigated in spinal cords of the rats. Under light microscopy shrinkage of neurones was evident in the anterior and lateral horns of the spinal cord, in its thoracic region. The abnormalities corresponded to morphological changes found in paraneoplastic myelopathy. In biochemical studies a decrease in cholesterol esters, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol content were detected in spinal cord of experimental animals. The qualitative abnormalities were expressed also by decreased molar ratios of gangliosides to phospholipids, of cholesterol to galactolipids as well as of cholesterol to phospholipids and an increased ratio of gangliosides to phospholipids. Analysis of lipids peroxidation revealed lowered content of conjugated dienes and of malonylodialdehyde in spinal cord. Content of sulfhydryl groups remained unchanged. Na +/ K+-ATPase and Ca+2-ATPase activities and expression of heat shock protein 70 were increased. Our data suggested that lipids pattern, ATPase activities and heat shock protein expression in the spinal cord, manifested in the tumor-bearing Buffalo rats, may promote understanding of underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for cancer-associated myelopathy.
Slawomir Michalak , Wojciech Ambrosius , Krystyna Osztynowicz and Wojciech Kozubski , 2007. ATPases Activity, Lipids and Heat Shock Protein 70 kDA in Spinal Cord in Rats with Experimental Neoplastic Disease. Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 1: 199-208.